Lobularia plant named ‘Inlbublupr’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lobularia  plant named ‘Inlbublupr’, characterized by its outwardly spreading, mounding and trailing to decumbent plant habit; freely branching habit; vigorous growth habit; relatively long leaves; freely and continuous flowering habit; relatively long flowering period; white-colored small flowers that with development become light violet in color; and tolerance to high temperatures.

Botanical designation: (Lobularia canariensis×Lobulariamaritima)×Lobularia maritima.

Cultivar denomination: ‘INLBUBLUPR’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLobularia plant, botanically known as (Lobularia canariensis×Lobulariamaritima)×Lobularia maritima and hereinafter referred to by the name‘Inlbublupr’.

The new Lobularia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain. Theobjective of the breeding program was to develop new Lobularia plantswith unique and attractive flower coloration.

The new Lobularia plant originated from a cross-pollination conducted bythe Inventor in March, 2009 in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain of aLobularia canariensis×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbusnopr’, disclosed in U.S.Plant Pat. No. 21,594, as the female, or seed, parent, with an unnamedselection of Lobularia maritima, not patented, as the male, or pollen,parent. The new Lobularia plant was discovered and selected by theInventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the statedcross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in La Palma,Canary Islands, Spain in May, 2010. Asexual reproduction of the newLobularia plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouseenvironment in La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain since November, 2010 hasshown that the unique features of this new Lobularia plant are stableand reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lobularia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Inlbublupr’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Inlbublupr’ as a new and distinct Lobulariaplant:

-   -   1. Outwardly spreading, mounding and trailing to decumbent plant        habit.    -   2. Freely branching and vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Relatively long leaves.    -   4. Freely and continuous flowering habit.    -   5. Relatively long flowering period.    -   6. White-colored small flowers that with development become        light violet in color.    -   7. Good garden performance and tolerant to high temperatures.

Plants of the new Lobularia differ from plants of the female parent,‘Inlbusnopr’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobularia and ‘Inlbusnopr’ differ in stem        and leaf color.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobularia have smaller flowers than plants        of ‘Inlbusnopr’.    -   3. Plants of the new Lobularia and ‘Inlbusnopr’ differ in flower        color as plants of ‘Inlbusnopr’ have white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Lobularia differ from plants of the male parentselection primarily in leaf size as plants of the new Lobularia havelonger leaves than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Lobularia can be compared to unnamed selections plantsof seed-produced Lobularia maritima, not patented. In side-by-sidecomparisons, plants of the new Lobularia differed from plants of unnamedselections of seed-produced Lobularia maritima in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lobularia were larger and more vigorous        than plants of unnamed selections of seed-produced Lobularia        maritima.    -   2. Plants of the new Lobularia were more high temperature        tolerant than plants of unnamed selections of seed-produced        Lobularia maritima.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Lobularia plant showing the colors as true as it isreasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color valuescited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describethe colors of the new Lobularia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Inlbublupr’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typicalflowering plant of ‘Inlbublupr’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in one-galloncontainers an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. under commercialpractices typical of commercial Lobularia production. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 29° C.and night temperatures ranged from 14° C. to 18° C. Plants were pinchedone time at planting and were six weeks old when the photographs anddescription were taken. In the following description, color referencesare made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: (Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia    maritima)×Lobularia maritima ‘Inlbublupr’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lobularia canariensis×Lobularia            maritima ‘Inlbusnopr’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No.            21,594.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed selection of Lobularia            maritima, not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four to five days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About five to seven days at            temperatures of about 7° C. to 16° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About six            weeks at 7° C. to 16° C.        -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; white in            color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Outwardly spreading, mounding            and trailing to decumbent plant habit; freely branching            habit with about nine to ten primary lateral branches and            numerous secondary and tertiary lateral branches developing            per plant; vigorous growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 22.5 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 53 cm.        -   Lateral branches.—Length: About 27 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Strength: Strong, tough.            Texture: Scattered pubescent; longitudinally ridged. Color:            Close to 147B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.        -   Length.—About 6.5 cm.        -   Width.—About 4 mm.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Attenuate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.        -   Venation pattern.—Single midvein.        -   Color.—Developing and fully expanded leaves, upper surface:            Close to 137B; venation, close to 137B. Developing and fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B; venation,            close to 146C.        -   Petioles.—Length: About 5 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:            Close to 146B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower type and habit.—Small single rounded flowers arranged            in narrow terminal racemes; flowers face mostly outwardly;            freely flowering habit, about 50 flowers developing per            inflorescence.        -   Natural flowering season.—Relatively long flowering period;            plants flower continuously from spring until autumn in            southern California.        -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About five days; flowers not            persistent.        -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; sweet, vanilla-like.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 11 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 2.5 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 5 mm.        -   Flower depth (height).—About 3 mm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Shape: Roughly spherical. Color: Close to NN155D.        -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four petals arranged in a            single whorl. Length: About 4 mm. Width: About 3 mm. Shape:            Oval. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;            velvety. Color: When opening, upper and lower surfaces:            Close to NN155D. Fully opened, upper surface: Close NN155D;            with development, color progressively shifts to close to 84D            and to 85A to 85B; high light conditions enhance violet            color development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close            NN155D; with development, color shifts to close to 85B; high            light conditions enhance violet color development.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Four sepals arranged in a            single whorl; calyx, cup-shaped. Length: About 1.5 mm.            Width: About 1 mm. Shape: Elliptical. Apex: Acute. Base:            Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146B.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.4 cm. Width: About 2 mm.            Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color: Close to 146B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1.2 mm. Width: Less than 1 mm.            Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Scattered pubescence.            Color: Close to 146B.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Six.            Filament length: About 1.5 mm. Filament color: Close to            145D. Anther shape: Oval. Anther length: Less than 1 mm.            Anther color: Close to 161A. Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen            color: Close to 163C. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One.            Pistil length: About 2 mm. Style length: Less than 1 mm.            Style color: Close to 137D. Stigma shape: Rounded. Stigma            color: Close to 145B. Ovary color: Close to 137D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed on plants of the new Lobularia.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Lobularia have not    been noted to be resistant to pathogens or pests common to Lobularia    plants.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lobularia have been observed    to have good garden performance; have been noted to tolerate    temperatures from about −4° C. to about 32° C. and to have excellent    tolerance to rain and wind.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lobularia plant named ‘Inlbublupr’as illustrated and described.